Nathwani reportedly secured 28 votes, defeating Congress nominee Pranav Jha, who could get just 20 votes despite the INDIA bloc enjoying a comfortable majority in the Assembly.
In a major political setback for the Congress-led INDIA bloc, BJP-backed Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani on Thursday pulled off surprise victory in the Jharkhand Rajya Sabha elections.
Nathwani reportedly secured 28 votes, defeating Congress nominee Pranav Jha, who could get just 20 votes despite the INDIA bloc enjoying a comfortable majority in the Assembly.
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Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) candidate Baidyanath Ram was the other candidate to secure victory.
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According to the final tally, Ram secured 30 valid votes and was comfortably elected. Nathwani polled 28 votes, crossing the winning mark despite the BJP-led NDA having only 24 MLAs in the 81-member Assembly.
The counting process also witnessed invalid votes. Three ballots were declared invalid — two cast in favour of Nathwani and one in favour of the Congress candidate. Despite the cancellations, Nathwani maintained a decisive lead over Jha and was declared winner.
The result came as a major embarrassment for the INDIA bloc, which commands 56 members in the Assembly and, on paper, had enough strength to win both Rajya Sabha seats.
The NDA, with 24 legislators, was four votes short of the 28 first-preference votes required to secure a seat, making Nathwani’s victory possible only through cross-voting and support from legislators outside the BJP-led alliance.
Soon after the result, Jharkhand Congress in-charge K. Raju alleged that MLAs of alliance partners Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the CPI-ML did not support the Congress nominee. The RJD has four MLAs, and the CPI-ML has two members in the Assembly.
The election had generated intense political interest in the state, with both the ruling coalition and the opposition engaging in extensive consultations and strategy meetings in the run-up to polling.
The INDIA bloc had fielded two candidates — JMM’s Baidyanath Ram and Congress’s Jha — banking on its numerical advantage, while Nathwani contested as an Independent with the backing of the NDA.
Voting took place peacefully in the Assembly complex, with all 81 legislators casting their ballots. Chief Minister Hemant Soren, cabinet ministers and leaders from both the treasury and opposition benches participated in the polling process. JMM leader and minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu cast the final vote of the day.
Expressing gratitude after his victory, Nathwani said the mandate carried special significance as Jharkhand was the state from where his parliamentary journey began.
“Deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve a fourth term in the Rajya Sabha. This is my third term from Jharkhand, the land from where my parliamentary journey commenced in 2008. It is a matter of immense pride and humility to return once again to my karmabhoomi,” he said in a post on X.
Thanking the legislators who supported him, Nathwani said he would continue working for the development and aspirations of Jharkhand. “With renewed commitment and sincerity, every effort will continue to advance the interests and aspirations of Jharkhand and its people. Johar Jharkhand,” he added.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey congratulated Nathwani on the victory and termed the result a significant setback for the Mahagathbandhan, noting that the NDA-backed candidate secured 28 votes against the Congress nominee’s 20.
(With agency inputs)
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